WebQuest: EARTHQUAKE APPRENTICE PROJECT

INTRODUCTION AS AN EARTHQUAKE ENGINEER, YOU KNOW THAT EARTHQUAKES ARE COMMON IN AREAS WHICH HAVE ACTIVE VOLCANOES. SO, WHEN YOUR TEAM IS ASKED TO BUILD A VOLCANOE OBSERVATORY NEAR MOUNT RAINER IN WASHINGTON, YOU KNOW THE OBSERVATORY WILL HAVE TO WITHSTAND FREQUENT EARTHQUAKES. AFTER ALL, YOU DON’T WANT TO HAVE TO REBUILD THE OBSERVATORY AFTER EVERY QUAKE, NOR DO YOU WANT ANYONE TO GET HURT IF THE OBSERVATORY IS NOT BUILT PROPERLY. YOU WILL ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER THE TYPE OF BUILDING AND THE TYPE OF LAND ON WHICH THE OBSERVATORY WILL BE BUILT.

TASK IN TEAMS OF FOUR YOU WILL PROPOSE A DESIGN FOR THE OBSERVATORY AND BUILD A MODEL TO BE TESTED. IF YOUR BUILDING WITHSTANDS THE SHAKE TABLE TEST YOUR TEAM WILL NOT BE FIRED!

PROCEDURE 1. EACH PERSON ON YOUR TEAM WILL BE ASSIGNED ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DESIGN ELEMENTS TO RESEARCH: LOCATION: DESCRIPTION AND MAPS SHOWING PROXIMITY TO FAULT AND WATERWAYS (ESTUARIES); SOLID ROCK, SOFT SOIL, OR FILL; URBAN OR RURAL CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS: WHAT SHOULD YOU BUILD WITH: WOOD, CONCRETE, STEEL, PLASTICS; AND SHOULD THE MATERIALS BE REINFORCED OR MANUFACTURED DESIGN: SHAPE OF BUILDING, ARCHWAYS, BEAMS, LENGTH, HEIGHT, WIDTH, AND STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENTS SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: SPECIAL ROUTES, EMERGENCY EXITS, ALTERNATIVE EXITS, ACCESS TO FIRE, POLICE, FIRST AID DEPARTMENTS

PROCEDURE … USING YOUR NOTES AND RESEARCH, CREATE AN “EXPERT SHEET” THAT WILL BE PHOTOCOPIED AND DISTRIBUTED TO EACH PERSON ON YOUR TEAM. THIS SHEET SHOULD INCLUDE A THOROUGH BIBLIOGRAPHY. YOUR ORIGINAL MUST BE ATTACHED TO YOUR FINAL REPORT TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR YOU RESEARCH. NEXT, YOUR TEAM WILL CONSTRUCT A MODEL OF THE BUILDING BASED ON YOUR COMBINED RESEARCH. THE BASE OF THE BUILDING SHOULD NOT EXCEED 30 CM2. EACH STRUCTURE WILL BE TESTED ON THE “SHAKE TABLE” AND MUST SURVIVE FOR A MINIMUM OF 1 MIN. FINALLY, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION ALL OF THE INFORMATION GATHERED, EACH PERSON WILL THEN WRITE A PROPOSAL DESCRIBING THE OBSERVATORY YOU WILL BUILD. THE FINAL REPORT SHOULD BE TYPED AND INCLUDE A COVER PAGE, COMPLETE BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND COMPUTERIZED BLUEPRINT OF YOUR DESIGN.

RESOURCES Click the symbol next to the topic you wish to investigate. General: Information on earthquakes Location: Maps and other information about Mount Rainier and the surrounding area. Construction Materials: Information on different types of materials that can be used in the construction of earthquake proof buildings Design: Research relating to the shape and design of buildings, bridges, and arches. Safety and Emergency Procedures: Earthquake safe practices and related preparedness issues.

GENERAL RESOURCES Predicting Earthquakes USGS TLC: Earthquake Make A Quake To Ask An Expert Click Here Earth Hazards: Earthquakes Predicting Earthquakes (Audio Link) GO TO EVALUATION

LOCATION RESOURCES Mount Rainier, Washington USGS Mount Rainier National Park To Ask An Expert Click Here Mount Rainier Seismicity SEMP: Soil Liquifaction Soil and Earthquakes GO TO EVALUATION

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS RESOURCES Shaken Awake! To Ask An Expert Click Here Adobe That Survives Concrete Homes GO TO EVALUATION

DESIGN RESOURCES Earthquakes and Buildings Building for the Big One To Ask An Expert Click Here Designing for Earthquakes Disaster Resistant Links GO TO EVALUATION

SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURE RESOURCES Earthquakes Preparedness To Ask An Expert Click Here What Should I Do? American Red Cross Earthquake Safety Links GO TO EVALUATION

EVALUATION Criteria: (Superb 5 4 3 2 1 Not Evident) TOTAL / 35 YOUR GRADE WILL BE A COMBINATION OF YOUR GROUP WORK AND YOUR INDIVIDUAL WORK. PLEASE READ THE RUBRIC CAREFULLY! EVALUATION Criteria: (Superb 5 4 3 2 1 Not Evident)   Quality and Accuracy of Research: Attach your original expert sheet, team sheets, and rough drafts. Proposal/Report: Typed, addresses each design element thoroughly and clearly. Blueprint: Computerized, labeled, and drawn to scale (shows dimensions). References: Minimum of 12 sources (3 from each section) on a separate sheet, correct format, and alphabetized by author. Creativity: Report and project reflect individual thinking and design. Challenge Project Success: Survives the 1 minute shake down. Cooperation and Effort: Good use of time, appropriate behavior, and good communication skills. TOTAL / 35

CONCLUSION CONGRATULATIONS YOUR BUILDING SURVIVED! (Click below)   REFLECTION: WRITE YOUR PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON THIS PROJECT. USE THE QUESTIONS BELOW TO GUIDE YOUR THOUGHTS. CONGRATULATIONS YOUR BUILDING SURVIVED! (Click below) SORRY YOUR BUILDING WAS CRUSHED. (Click below)

SORRY  YOU’RE FIRED! WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT IF YOUR BUILDING FELL WITHIN THE FIRST MINUTE, YOU WILL NOT BE HIRED FOR THIS JOB. TO REDEEM YOURSELF PLEASE SUBMIT A BRIEF EXPLAINATION FOR WHY YOUR BUILDING FELL AND HOW YOU WOULD FIX IT IF YOU HAD TO DO IT AGAIN.   WHAT DID YOUR TEAM DO WELL TOGETHER? WHAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DID YOU NEED TO IMPROVE YOUR BUILDING? HOW COULD YOU HAVE ORGANIZED YOUR RESEARCH BETTER? END SHOW

CONGRATULATIONS  YOU’RE HIRED. TO THOSE OF YOU STILL STANDING CONGRATULATIONS  YOU’RE HIRED! TO THOSE OF YOU STILL STANDING! YOUR TEAM WILL BE HIRED. AFTER OBSERVING OTHER BUILDING TYPES, IDENTIFY THE FIVE KEY FEATURES THAT YOU BELIEVE MADE THOSE BUILDINGS A SUCCESS.   WHAT MADE YOUR TEAM A SUCCESS? WHO CAME UP WITH A NOVEL IDEA THAT TRULY MADE YOUR BUILDING UNIQUE? HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT DIVIDING THE RESEARCH RESPONSIBILITIES UP? END SHOW